Game



R. J. KOCH 2,998,975

Sept. 5, 1961 GAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1, 1960 pgl ?6 mm; 12 ill 51 512 Sept. 5, 1961 Filed Dec. 1, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet R. J. KOCH Sept. 5, 1961 GAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 1, 1960 United States Patent AME This invention relates to a game, and more particularly to a game utilizing a game board.

A primary feature of this invention is to provide a new and improved chance-selector for use in a game.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a new and improved game.

A further feature of this invention is to provide such a game simulating the game of baseball.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a chance-selector having portions selectively adjustable for providing any one of a plurality of indications, an additional portion selectively adjustable in accordance with the indication for providing a code designation, and means selectively cooperating with another portion as determined by the code designation for indicating a second code designation.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a game for playing baseball wherein a pair of team slides are movably mounted on a game board base and are independently adjustable for varying the position of cooperating portions thereof which determine a pitch indication, with a batting slide movably mounted on the base and having a pair of cooperating portions selectively positionable in cooperating relationship with the pitch code of the cooperating portions for determining one of a plurality of call codes, certain of the call codes including a field code and a hitting code, and a plurality of serially assembled player cards each having a plurality of portions corresponding to the hitting code and one of the cards cooperating with play indicators of one of a plurality of field sections corresponding to the field code for determining a play code.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of a game board assembly;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken as indicated along the line 3--3 of FIGURE 1; 7

FIGURE 4 is a section taken as indicated along the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken as indicated along the line 55 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a section taken as indicated along the line 66 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational section of the gam board mounted on an illuminating base; and

FIGURE 8 is a top view of two of a plurality of cards used in playing the game.

While an illustrated embodiment of the invention -is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, and it should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is, in brief, directed to agame in which the participants make initial selections of cards, and during the play of the game the participants make independent but interrelated selections providing code designations which are used in conjunction with the fixed selections for providing a second code designation for determining the ultimate play of the game according to a rule.

Patented Sept. 5, 1961 r ice More particularly, the invention is herein applied to a game for playingjbaseball. Two participants each select a baseball team from a plurality of player cards, and arrange the cards serially in a batting order. Each participant actuates a team slide which is reciprocally mounted on a game board and sets his slide to any desired position as indicated by an index which is concealed from the other participant. The slides have cooperating portions which provide one of a number of pitch indications in the form of a colored circle and numbers which vary depending on the positions of the slide indexes. The pitch indication is concealed from both players by a batters dial which is rotatably mounted on the game board and has a pair of openings designated Take and Swing for determining one of a plurality of call codes. In the event that the participant at bat turns the batters dial to position the Take opening over the pitch indication, a ball or strike will result, and if the Swing opening is positioned above the pitch indication, a strike, foul, hit, and so forth will be the call code. The player card of the player at bat is then positioned on one of a plurality of field sections as determined by the call code.

Each player card has a plurality of openings which over-. lie play indicators in the designated field section, the openings being designated in keeping with the call code and the appropriate Opening indicating a second code which determines the play of the game, that is, whether the batter is safe and the disposition of each base runner, and so forth. The remainder of the play of the game is in keeping with baseball rules.

Referring to the drawings, in FIGURE 7, a game board 10 is suitably mounted in an inclined position on a base or table 11. A light bulb 12 is received in a socket 13 mounted on a rear Wall 14 of the base 11 and is connected to an electric socket (not shown) by a cord 15.'

' direction of the arrow of FIGURE 7. The game board 10 includes a base 18. Referring to FIGURES 2-6, the bottom end of the base 18 is formed by four superimposed sheets of cardboard secured to each other in faceto-face relationship in any suitable manner as by adhesive or fasteners.v The upper face of the game board is suitably imprinted in an attractive manner on a sheet of cardboard 20 overlying sheets of cardboard 21 and 22 and a bottom sheet of cardboard 23. A pair of members in the form of team slides 25 and 26 are mounted for independent reciprocal movement in the base 18, and

more particularly the slide 25 is mounted in a cut-out 27 in the sheet 22. The slide 25 and the periphery of the cut-out 27 have cooperating abutment portions 28 for preventing the slide from being pulled out of the base 18. Similarly, the slide 26 is mounted in a cut-out '30 in the sheet 21 immediately above the sheet 22. The sliding 26 and the periphery of the cut-out 30 have'cooperat-v ing abutments 31 for preventing the slide 26 from being pulled out of the base 18. The slide 26 and its cut-out 30 are slightly wider than the slide 25 and its cut-out 27 so that the bottom face of the slide 26 slides across a portion of the top face of the sheet 22 adjacent the sides of the cut-out 27. I

Means cooperating with each other for providing one of a plurality of indications is provided in the form of described hereinafter. The translucent strip 38 has five.

colored sections, from left to right as follows: a black section 41, a red section 42 imprinted with the letter L, a green section 43, a second red section 44 imprinted with the letter R, and a second black section 45.

The slide 26 has a series of numbers 48 adjacent its outer end which cooperate with a circular cut-out 49 in the top sheet 20 to provide an index setting 50 for the slide 26, and a similar series of numbers 51 adjacent a side edge at the inner end of the slide, for a purpose to be fully described hereinafter. The index settings 35 and '50 provide means for selectively adjusting the first slides to vary the one indication. A rectangular slot 52 in the slide 26 overlies the series of numbers 36 on the lower slide 25 so that the numbers are visible. A circular cut-out 54 adjacent the inner end of the slide 26 overlies the translucent strip 38 of the lower slide 25 so that the various colored sections 41-45, and combinations of two such sections, are visible. The outer ends of both slides are provided with grommets 55 so that the slides may be more easily moved by a finger.

The upper sheet 20 has a cross-shaped cut-out 56, indicated by dotted lines in FIGURE 1, which overlies cooperating portions of the slides 25 and 26 comprising the series of numbers 36 and 51, respectively, the translucent strip 38 of the slide 25, and the circular cut-out 54 of the slide 26, which provide means selectively adjustable for providing one of a plurality of indications varying responsive to the relative adjustment of the slides in keeping with the index settings 35 and 50. The cutouts 27 and 30 provide means mounting the slides on the base for relative movement of the cooperating portions.

Means selectively positionable for concealing the one indication and for interpreting the one indication to provide one of a plurality of call code designations comprise another member, a third slide in the form of a batters dial 60. This dial is rotatably mounted on the base 18 by a pin 61 providing means mounting the third slide on the base for rotary movement with respect to the cooperating portions of the slides 25 and 26. The third slide has a portion 62 normally overlying the cross cutout portion 56 and concealing the indication defined by the cooperating portions of the slides 25 and 26. The third slide also has a pair of cut-out portions 63 and 64 either of which may be rotated into overlying relationship with the indication for providing a call code designation. One of the cut-out portions 63 is in the form of a cross which exposes a colored circle 54 and one of each series of numbers 36 and 51, one of the codes having a field code portion and a hitting code portion, as will be more fully described hereinafter. The cross cutout 63 is designated as the Swing position and is indicated by an index setting 66 including cooperating portions on the base 18 and an arrow on the third slide 60. The cut-out portion 64 is generally rectangular and when it is in overlying relationship with the indication only the colored circle 54 is exposed. The rectangular cut-out portion 64 is designated the Take position and is indicated by an index setting 67 including cooperating portions of the base 18 and the arrow on the third slide '60, thereby providing means selectively adjustable and cooperat ing with the one indication for providing one of a plurality of code designations varying responsive to the adjustment of the third slide. The translucent sheet 38 is back lighted through the slot 40 in the bottom sheet 23 by the light from the bulb 12. The series of numbers 35 and 36 are of one color, such as blue, and the series of numbers 48 and 51 are of a difierent color, such as red.

The game board base 18 has a translucent panel 70 suitably secured between sheets 21 and Hand closing a cut-out portion 71 in the sheets 21. The sheet 23 has a similar cut-out 72. The sheet 22 has a rectangular cut-out 73 for receiving an opaque slide 74 between the sheets 21 and 23. Means having a plurality of indicators is Provided in the form of the panel 70 and an undersurface thereof provided with a plurality of indicators in the form of indicia 75 which is visible from the top of the game board 10 only when the slide 74 is pulled out as by finger hole 74a, to permit light from the bulb 12 to pass through the translucent panel 70 thereby pro viding a plurality of indicator means each corresponding to a code designation and each having a plurality of indicators. The panel 70 is divided into a plurality of sections numbered 1 through 5 from left to right to corre spond with the series of numbers 36 and 51 and designated Left Field," Left Center," Center Field, Right Center, and Right Field, thereby dividing the panel into a plurality of field sections. Each field section is delimited by inwardly extending protrusions 76 and an indentation 77 opposite and between the protrusions 76, on the sheet 21. Each section has a plurality of the indicators 75 and is adapted to receive a member in the form of a player card 79 which has end portions 80 and 81 cooperating with a pair of protrusions 76, and a corresponding notch 77, respectively, for operatively positioning the card on one of the sections. Each card has a plurality of generally rectangular cut-out portions 82 each with an index mark 83 corresponding to one of the color indications within the circular cut-out 54 of the call code, and providing means selectively cooperating with the indicators as determined by the call code des' ignation for providing a second code designation, and having portions corresponding to code designations, and a portion corresponding to the one code designation cooperating with an indicator of the section designated by the one call code designation for providing a second code designation. Each rectangular cut-out portion 82 c0- operates with one of the indicators 75 in the section designated by the call code for providing a second code designation in the cut-out portion 82 corresponding to the call code designation in the cut-out portion 54. Each indicator 75 has four portions corresponding to home plate in the lower left hand corner, and counterclockwise, first, second, and third bases, each portion indicating the disposition of the man at that location, if any. A suitable second code designation for each portion may be as follows: preferably in green color, l," a one base advance and/or hit; 2," a two base advance and/or hit; 3, a three base advance and/or hit; 4," a home run, and preferably in red color, 0, a batter or runner is out; a runner holds-cannot advance; F," a foul strike; F a foul out; O-O, out symbols connected-only one out-fielders choice.

To play the game two participants, designated Managers decide who will represent home team and the vistors, and the Managers choose their player cards 79 in any suitable manner until the player cards are all assigned. The Managers prepare the respective batting orders of the teams by arranging the cards serially with the lead card being the next batter up. Player cards not appearing in the batting order are on the bench and available to substitute for the starting players at any (time. Once removed from the game, a player may not be returned to-that game. Players must bat in the order given on the batter order.

Managers take positions on either side of the game board 10, and each takes possession of one of the team slides. The team slide is used for both hitting and pitching and it does-not matter which slide is used by either Manager-the results will be identical. The Manager of the vistors has his first man, that is, the leading player card of his series, come to bat. Each Manager cups his hand over his team slide in such a manner that his opponent cannot see what he is doing. To pitch, the Manager of the home team adjusts his team slide in any one offive possible positions according to the index setting 35 or 50. To bat, the Manager of the visiting team similarly adjusts his slide. When the pitcher and the batter set their team slides on the same index number, a green light will show in the circular cut-out 54 when the 'batters dial 60 is turned. When the Managers are one number apart in this positioning, a red-green. or' green-red light will show, reading colors from left to right. At two positions apart, a red light will show, either a red L or R. Three positions apart will show blackred or red-black. At maximum distance apart, the circle under the batters dial will be entirely black.- The color indication'resulting from the positioning of the team slides 25 and 26 will be discussed hereinafter, and is the key used to develop the code designation of the take and swing index settings on the batters dial. After both team slides have been positioned, if the batter decides to take, he turns the batters dial 60 to the take index setting 67 position for determining a code designation, Any pitch with any green showing will be called a strike, and a pitch without green will be called a ball. If the batter intends to take it is obviously to his advantage to position his team slide as far from'his opponents team slide as possible. As he cannot know definitely where the opponent intends to pitch, this becomes a battle of guesswork, skill, and deception. Conversely, if the pitcher suspects that the batter is going to take, he will want to getthe pitch into the green area so it will be called a strike. If a batter decides to swing, the batter turns the batters dial to the swing index setting 66. The results of his swing will be one of the following code designations: (1) Whenever black, or black-red or redblack shows, the batter swung at the ball and missed for a strike. (2) When green, red-green or green-red is showing, the batter swung at and hit a good ball pitched in the strike zone. Whenever red shows, a pitch out of the strike zone has been swung at and hit. Approximately /3 of these red hits will result in foul balls and will be either foul strikes or foul outs. Whenever the pitch has been swung at and hit (green, a red-green combination, or red), the player card 79 for the player at bat must be positioned over the panel 70 to determine the second code designation. The panel has five numbered sections and the player card is placed in the position shown by the exposed number, either 36 or 51 on the pitcher team slide. Each player card has five colored lines to match the colors showing when the batters dial is swung to a hit ball. The red will show with either L (for left) or an R (for right) to indicate which of the red lines must be used.

With the player card in position, and the proper color line identified, slide 74 is pulled out until the indicators 75 then visible through the appropriate player card opening 82 is the second code designation and the result of that particular play.

The variations in play are almost limitless. Inasmuch as the pitching controls the field code of the code designation, that is the section on the panel 70, and themoperating portions of the team slides select the type of hit in the form of the hitting code of the code designation it is apparent that the results cannot be dominated by either of the Managers playing the game. The statistics will be those built into the player cards 79 and they mirror the best players in the Major Leagues. An interesting, action-packed baseball game will be the usual result, but a scoreless game, while very rare, will not be impossible.

Bunts may be called by the batter after he and the pitcher have set the team slides 25 and 26 but before turning the batters dial 60. Each player card 79 has a hunt opening 85 at the pointed end. After the batter has called a bunt, the batters dial is turned to the swing index setting and the color code designation will indicate whether the ball was hit, or missed for a strike. If the code indicates the ball was hit and hunted forward, the player card 79 is positioned in the section of panel 70 indicated by the number on the pitchers team slide. The bunt opening 85' will then either show red indicating that the lead runner is out, no sacrifice, or green indicating the sacrifice-batter is out and the runners advance, but

a safe hitall manners advance, and blacka foul hunt,

and on the third strike the batter is out. However, with a base-runner on third base, the defensive manager may say that he will play for the runner at the home plate, if he tries to score. If the Manager of the batting team elects to have the runner on third try to score (or if the bases are full), then in the case of a sacrifice bunt, whether or not this man scores, will be decided as though he were stealing the baseon the basis of the pitch. The batter would go to first on a fielders choice. The players represented by the player cards have individual abilities as base stealers. In this game, bases are stolen on the pitch. Each player card 79 is marked to show those pitches that will enable the player to steal a base. This is clearly shown in the -small ruled area 84. For example, if a player card indicates that the player will successfully steal a base if the code designation is red L, a red-green or green, and if the batter calls a steal after the team slides are set and before turning the batters dial, upon turning the dial to the take index setting, if any of these colors are showing the runner gets the base. If the pitch does not match the colors in his steal area, the runner is out. The steal must be made with the batter turning the batters dial to the take index setting and the batter is charged with the results of the pitch. If at double steal is called, the defense must announce, before the batters dial is turned, which runner they will play for. Only one out can be made, and then only if the pitch does not match the seal area of the selected runner. The Manager of the team at bat, with runners on base, can call that his runner (or runners) are going to run with the pitch-but only after both slides have been set. The batter must turn to the swing index setting. The following will apply. Itf it is a strike, the runner either is given the base or is called out depending upon the steal code on the player card, but to arrive at this call the Managers must each reposition their slides and derive a new color combination, otherwise runner would always be out. If the batter hits the ball for a safe hit, the runners get one more base than is indicated on the playing field. If a double play shows after a hit and run is called, on a green line only, the lead runner is called safe. On red and red-green combinations, the double play stands. and there is no indication of an advance, the runner must return to his base. If the batter is out, and there is an indication of an advance for a base runner, a fly ball is presumed and the advance is cancelled, for the runner must go back to tag up. If it is a foul, the runner returns to his base.

- The sheet '21 has three holes '87 for receiving baseone of said indicators as determined by said one designation for providing a second designation.

2. A game comprising: a plurality of independently adjustable means cooperating with each other for providing any one of a plurality of indications; means for adjusting the first said means to select any one of said indications; means selectively positionable for concealing said one indication and for interpreting said one indication to provide any one of a plurality of code designations; a plurality of indicators; means having portions corresponding to said code designations and including one portion corresponding to said one code designation and cooperating with one of said indicators to select a second code designation.

3. A game comprising: a base; a pair of slides having cooperating portions; means mounting said slides on said if no runner is on base the batter is out. White indicates base for relative movement of said cooperating portions;

If the batter is out means on said cooperating portions for providing one of a plurality of indications responsive to the relative psi tions of said slides; a third slide; means mounting said third slide on said base for movement with respect to said cooperating portions, and a portion of said third slide overlying said cooperating portions and normally concealing said one indication; and a plurality of openings in said third slide each selectively positionable in overlying relationship with at least a portion of said one indication; a panel on said base, said panel being divided into a plurality of sections; a plurality of indicators in each section; a member selectively positionable in cooperating relationship with any of said sections, said member having a plurality of openings; means for operatively retaining said member in overlying relationship with any one of said sections, and said openings in said member each overlying a different indicator in said one section.

4. A game comprising: a base; a pair of slides each independently mounted on said base for reciprocal movement to a plurality of positions; an index on each slide comprising cooperating portions of said base and the respective slide and having settings for positioning the res ective slide in one of said positions; cooperating portions on said slides providing one of a plurality of indications varying responsive to the relative positions of said slides as determined by the respective slide index setting; a third slide mounted on said base for rotary movement to a plurality of positions; an index comprising cooperating portions of said third slide and said base and having settings for positioning said third slide in one of said third slide positions; a plurality of portions of said third slide each corresponding to one of said third slide index settings and selectively cooperating with said cooperating portions as determined by said third slide index for interpreting said one indication and providing one of a plurality of code designations; a panel having a plurality of sections each corresponding to said code designations, one of said sections corresponding to said one code designation; a plurality of indicators in each section, and a plurality of serially arranged cards each having portions corresponding to said code designations, one of said card portions corresponding to said one code designation, the lead card of the series being received by said one section, said portions of said lead card each cooperating with different indicators of said one section and said one portion of said lead card cooperating with an indicator for providing a second code designation.

5. A game for playing simulated baseball, comprising: a base; a pair of team slides movably mounted on said base and each having an independently adjustable index and cooperating portions for detennining a pitch indication varying responsive to the relative adjustment of the indexes; a batting selector slide movably mounted on said base and having a pair of batting indexes and cooperating portions selectively positionable in cooperating relationship with said pitch indication for determining one of a plurality of call codes, certain of said call codes including a field code and a hitting code; a plurality of field sections each corresponding to one of said field codes and having a plurality of play indicators; a plurality of serially assembled player cards each having a plurality of portions corresponding to said hitting code; the lead player card of said series being received by the field section determined by said field code in cooperative relationship with play indicators of the last said field section, and the card portion corresponding to said hitting code cooperating with one of the last said play indicators for determining a play code.

6. A chance-selector for use in a game, comprising: a plurality of independently adjustable means cooperat- 8 ing with each other for providing a plurality of indications; and means for adjusting the first said means to provide one of said indications.

7. The chance-selector of claim 6, and means selec,- tively concealing said one indication.

,8. The chance-selector of claim 7, wherein said QQQ, cealing means is selectively positionable for interpr ting said one indication to provide a code designation,

9. A chanceselector for use in a game, comprising: a base; a plurality of members selectively positionable on said base and having cooperating portions providing any one of a plurality of indications corresponding to the correlative positions of said members; and cooperating index means on each member and portions of said base, said index means being adjustable to any one of a plurality of settings.

10. The chance-selector of claim 9 including another member movably mounted and selectively positionable on said base and having a portion selectively concealing said one indication.

11. The chance-selector of claim 10, wherein said another member includes a plurality of portions selectively positionable in accordance with said one indication to expose the same.

12. A chance-selector for use in a game, comprising: a base; a pair of slides having cooperating portions; means mounting said slides on said base for relative movement of said cooperating portions; means on said cooperating portions for providing any one of a plurality of indications corresponding to the correlative positions of said slides; a third slide on said base for movement relative to said cooperating portions, a portion of said third slide overlying said cooperating portions and normally concealing said one indication, said third slide having a plurality of openings selectively positionable in overlying relationship with at least a pontion of said one indication.

13. A chance-selector for use in a game, comprising: a base; a pair of slides each independently mounted on said base for reciprocal movement to a plurality of positions; index means on each slide and said base for indicating the positioning of the respective slides in each of said positions; cooperating portions on said slides providing any one of a plurality of indications corresponding to the correlative position of the slides, and a third slide mounted on said base for rotary movement to a plurality of positions; and second index means on said third slide and said base and having settings for indicating the positioning of said third slide, a said third slide further having a plurality of portions correlated with said second index means for interpreting said one indication and providing a corresponding one of a plurality of code designations.

14. A game comprising: a panel divided into a plurality of sections; a plurality of indicators in each section; a member selectively positionable in cooperating relationship with any of said sections, said member having a plurality of openings; and means for retaining selectively said member in overlying relationship with any one of said sections to dispose said opening in overlying relationship with difierent indicators in said one section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,171,916 Akins Feb. 15, 1916 1,517,433 Kelly Dec. 2, 1924 2,118,359 Quinn May 24, 1938 2,530,187 Wolfe Nov. 14, 1950 2,626,155 Beierle Jan. 20, 1 953 

